Maine Memory Network
Maine's Online Museum

Title: Women Spinning at Pepperell Mills, Biddeford, 1910

Contributed by: McArthur Public Library

Date: 1910

Location: Biddeford

Media: Black and White Photograph

Title: Women sorting rags, Brewer, ca. 1920

Contributed by: Maine Folklife Center, Univ. of Maine

Date: circa 1920

Location: Brewer

Media: Photograph

Title: Women Cutting Rags, Brewer, ca. 1920

Contributed by: Maine Folklife Center, Univ. of Maine

Date: circa 1920

Location: Brewer

Media: Photograph

Address: 297-301 Danforth Street, Portland

Owner in 1924: Home For Aged Women

Use: Land only

Address: 60 Emery Street, Portland

Owner in 1924: Home for Aged Women

Use: Nursing Home

Address: 12-16 Powsland Street, Portland

Owner in 1924: Temporary Home for Women & Children

Use: Dwelling

Working Women of the Old Port

Women at the turn of the 20th century were increasingly involved in paid work outside the home. For wage-earning women in the Old Port section of Portland, the jobs ranged from canning fish and vegetables to setting type. A study done in 1907 found many women did not earn living wages.

Writing Women

Published women authors with ties to Maine are too numerous to count. They have made their marks in all types of literature.

Westbrook Seminary: Educating Women

Westbrook Seminary, built on Stevens Plain in 1831, was founded to educate young men and young women. Seminaries traditionally were a form of advanced secondary education. Westbrook Seminary served an important function in admitting women students, for whom education was less available in the early and mid nineteenth century.

Lubec, Maine

A history of the easternmost town in Maine as created by the Lubec Historical Society, Lubec Consolidated School, Lubec Landmarks, and Lubec Memorial Library. Exhibits include the sardine and herring industries, the Sardine Queen, the West Quoddy Head Lighthouse, the 1911 Centennial Celebration, the S. S. Cumberland Steamer, the gold hoax, an important community quilt, a tragic boating accident, and the blizzard of 1934, among others.

Swan's Island: Six miles east of ordinary

A look back at island life in Maine as captured by a team consisting of Swan's Island Educational Society representatives, which encompasses the community's library and historical society, a class from the Swan's Island School, and an Island Fellow from the Island Institute. Exhibit topics examine islanders at work and play, Baird's Quarry, old buildings, and the changing role of women on the island.

Islesboro--An Island in Penobscot Bay

A history of one of Maine’s many populated islands. The site was created by a team consisting of representatives from Islesboro Historical Society, Islesboro Central School, and the Alice L. Pendleton Library. Early settlements, businesses and cottage industries, schools, water transportation, and summer resorts are the topics covered.